Appointment of Margrethe Vestager as Executive Vice-President of the European Commission

Author (Corporate)
Publication Date 2019
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Summary:

Reports, analyses and information on the appointment of Denmark's Margrethe Vestager as Executive Vice-President for a 'Europe Fit for Digital Age', in the European Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen.

Further information:

Margrethe Vestager is a former Danish minister and a European Commissioner since 2014. Ms Vestager was widely rumoured as one of the contenders for the presidency of the European Commission. In parallel, the Danish government indicated in June 2019 Ms Vestager would be again put forward as the country's candidate for the new College of Commissioners. She was formally announced on 9 September by the President of the European Commission. Her portfolio was known on the following day. Despite the unsuccessful bid for the presidency, Ms Vestager was given one of the Executive Vice-Presidencies and kept the competition portfolio, adding to it new digital-focused responsibilities.

The relevant committees of the European Parliament held a hearing with Ms Vestager on 8 October, in order to assess her capabilities to lead the portfolio. Media sources later reported that she had been approved as a suitable candidate.

Related Links
Official
European Commission: President-elect von der Leyen’s Mission Letter to Margrethe Vestager https://ec.europa.eu/commission/files/margrethe-vestagers-mission-letter_en
European Parliament: Margrethe Vestager’s replies to the European Parliament questionnaire https://www.europarl.europa.eu/resources/library/media/20190927RES62423/20190927RES62423.pdf
European Parliament: Hearing of Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President-designate for a Europe Fit for Digital Age https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/hearings2019/commission-hearings-2019/20190910STO60707/margrethe-vestager-denmark
European Parliament: Press Release, 08/10/2019: Hearing of Executive Vice President-designate Margrethe Vestager https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20190926IPR62263/

News
Politico, 26/06/2019: New Danish PM wants Vestager to stay as commissioner https://www.politico.eu/article/new-danish-pm-wants-vestager-to-stay-as-commissioner/
EurActiv, 27/06/2019: Vestager will stay in Brussels, even without EU Commission presidency https://www.euractiv.com/section/eu-elections-2019/news/vestager-will-stay-in-brussels-even-without-eu-commission-presidency/
The Guardian, 10/09/2019: Margrethe Vestager gets second term in EU competition job https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/10/margrethe-vestager-gets-second-term-in-eu-competition-job
The Times, 11/09/2019: Margrethe Vestager handed second term with more powers https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/margrethe-vestager-handed-second-term-with-more-powers-n6hxw3sb6
Politico, 13/09/2019: Vestager picks Denmark’s EU ambassador as head of cabinet https://www.politico.eu/article/vestager-picks-denmarks-eu-ambassador-as-head-of-cabinet/
Politico, 08/10/2019: Vestager makes her pitch as Europe’s digital champion https://www.politico.eu/article/margrethe-vestager-makes-her-pitch-as-europe-digital-tech-competition-champion-apple-google-facebook/
Reuters, 08/10/2019: EU's Vestager says breaking up companies is last option https://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKKBN1WN1PS
EurActiv, 09/10/2019: Vestager wins Parliament support after smooth-sailing hearing https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/news/vestager-wins-parliament-support-after-smooth-sailing-hearing/
EUObserver, 09/10/2019: Breaking up tech giants is last resort, Vestager tells MEPs https://euobserver.com/economic/146208

Commentary and Analysis
Wikipedia: Margrethe Vestager https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margrethe_Vestager
Politico, 10/09/2019: Margrethe Vestager’s vast new powers https://www.politico.eu/article/european-commission-vice-president-digital-margrethe-vestager-competition/
Bloomberg, 10/09/2019: Google and Facebook Get Some Very Unwelcome News https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2019-09-10/margrethe-vestager-is-more-bad-news-for-google-facebook-apple
Politico, 18/09/2019: Margrethe Vestager’s second chance https://www.politico.eu/article/margrethe-vestager-competition-digital-europe-tax-privacy-data-european-commision/
EPRS: Briefing, September 2019: Hearings of the Commissioners-designate: Margrethe Vestager – Vice-President: A Europe fit for the digital age https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2019)640171
Bloomberg, 08/10/2019: Vestager’s Biggest Hits (So Far) as Second Antitrust Term Awaits https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-10-08/vestager-s-biggest-hits-so-far-as-second-antitrust-term-awaits

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